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Seminole County Commissioners now planning out how to spend the revenue from the ‘Penny Sales’ Tax

Potentially including: road improvements, sports facilities, park projects, & animal shelters.

Seminole County tax increase Seminole County Government Chairman Jay Zembower leads BCC AM Session on 10-28-2025.

Orlando, Fla. — On Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025, Seminole County Commissioners held a meeting, on how to best spend the revenue from the Penny Sales Tax. (See below)

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Seminole voters last year approved raising the state sales tax in the county, by one penny up to 7 cents on the dollar, for the next 10 years.

Seminole County Government Chairman Jay Zembower led BCC AM Session on 10-28-2025.

At Tuesday’s commission meeting, Seminole staff then presented six planned projects. Officials also added, they plan to use just over a third of that total amount of the sales tax revenue for those type(s) of projects.

Assistant County Manager Kristian Swenson gave a rough total estimate between $210 million and $214 million.

Some of those include:

    • Renovating Seminole’s animal services campus.
    • Building a new multi-story county administration building at the Five Points Complex in Sanford.
    • Adding trails, a fishing pier and other amenities to Rolling Hills Community Park near Altamonte Springs.
    • Renovating the old WB Equestrian Center near Lake Mary, into an athletic facility with county offices.

Seminole County Commissioner & UCF Alumni Lee Constantine said, while discussing the list of projects: “Seminole has long planned to build a new multi-story county administration building [estimated to cost upwards of $80 million] at the south end of the sprawling Five Points Complex, off U.S. Highway 17-92, where the Sheriff’s Office, courthouses, & other county buildings reside.

That extra penny is currently expected to bring in roughly $650 million by the end of 2034.

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Jeremy Goldman

Jeremy Goldman, WDBO News & Talk

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Penn State broadcast journalist, class of 2025, with a minor in sports studies, & a John Curley Center Certification.